now a lady, a widow of a clergyman: he was a postermost child, and
afore his birth that women read nothin' but Blair's 'Grave' over and
over again, from the end to the beginnin';--that's a serious book!--very
hard readin'!--and at four years of age that child that come of it
reelly was the piousest infant!--he was like a little curate. His eyes
was up; he talked so solemn." Mrs. Berry imitated the little curate's
appearance and manner of speaking. "So she got her wish, for one!"

But at this lady Lucy laughed.

They chattered on happily till bedtime. Lucy arranged for Mrs. Berry to
sleep with her. "If it's not dreadful to ye, my sweet, sleepin' beside
a woman," said Mrs. Berry. "I know it were to me shortly after my Berry,
and I felt it. It don't somehow seem nat'ral after matrimony--a woman in
your bed! I was obliged to have somebody, for the cold sheets do give ye
the creeps when you've been used to that that's different."

Upstairs they went together, Lucy not sharing these objections. Then
Lucy opened certain drawers, and exhibited pretty caps, and laced linen,
all adapted for a very small body, all the work of her own hands: and
Mrs. Berry praised them and her. "You been guessing a boy--woman-like,"
she said. Then they cooed, and kissed, and undressed by the fire, and
knelt at the bedside, with their arms about each other, praying; both
praying for the unborn child; and Mrs. Berry pressed Lucy's waist the
moment she was about to breathe the petition to heaven to shield and
bless that coming life; and thereat Lucy closed to her, and felt a
strong love for her. Then Lucy got into bed first, leaving Berry to put
out the light, and before she did so, Berry leaned over her, and eyed
her roguishly, saying, "I never see ye like this, but I'm half in love
with ye myself, you blushin' beauty! Sweet's your eyes, and your hair do
take one so--lyin' back. I'd never forgive my father if he kep me away
from ye four-and-twenty hours just. Husband o' that!" Berry pointed at
the young wife's loveliness. "Ye look so ripe with kisses, and there
they are a-languishin'!--... You never look so but in your bed, ye
beauty!--just as it ought to be." Lucy had to pretend to rise to put out
the light before Berry would give up her amorous chaste soliloquy. Then
they lay in bed, and Mrs. Berry fondled her, and arranged for their
departure to-morrow, and reviewed Richard's emotions when he came to
hear he was going to be made a father by her,